Hi all,
I have just been on the phone to the Customer Service Management Team.
Apparently due to the big backlog in passports and it starting to hit the news (a few news articles today) they have realsed a new upgrade path for applications today!
If you can prove you are traveling within two weeks you are able to pay to upgrade. We got told to email a specific new upgrade team email adress stating various things and get contacted to pay and get fast tracked.
Personally we do not travel in two weeks time but I thought I would share with this fourm. Also you seem to get told 101 different things, so would be useful to know if anyone else also got told this!
The person on the phone said no doubt there will be teething problems and is not free.
If you are traveling within two weeks or about to, I would call up and ask about this serivce.
If you have any sucess please do let me know!
← Back to General Passport Application Discussion
Read-only · replies closed
Archived topic
New Passport Upgrade Service!
Travelingsoon12 · 6 Apr 2022, 15:40
Replies (1652)
CJames1702 - don't hold your breath. They are not contacting anyone in the original two working days. They are working through Upgrades in travel date order and mostly contacting people two or three days before the travel date.
Blackhall96 - surprised you got "put through" to the upgrade team as I have been told for the last week since I applied for the Upgrade that that is impossible and cannot be done. They most likely tried to put you through to the Progress Team. I hope you get it sorted though. We travel next Friday and no further forward. We have until Tuesday to decide whether to move the holiday (at huge cost) or wait it out and risk paying for a brand new holiday.
@Arnoldol yeah I was surprised myself to be fair, it was the first woman who put me through immediately without me even asking, so assumed you could. Only took until the third person to tell me that it's not possible
I really hope they sort you out, it's horrible seeing people have to sacrifice money either way. Please let me know if they ring you 2/3 days before. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you
@Blackhall96 - thanks. I have no faith they will and as I said we have to pull the trigger so to speak sometime on Tuesday. Its amazing how with a few quid chucked there way they are upgrading and getting people their passports. Absolute con
I travel next Thursday received my sons first time application back after 4 weeks mines a renewal they’ve had it now for 6 weeks. Put in for the upgrade (I’ve emailed every passport office) heard nothing. On hold for over 2 hours (main number transferred me to it) to be told the upgrade service is not a guarantee and won’t get a call until 48 hours before I fly and that’s a big IF I get a call back it’s absolutely ridiculous I’ve had stress headaches everyday all day as do I sit and wait for these for bite the bullet and push the holiday back!
I am travelling on the 11th of May so a few days time and I sent my passport in back in March for a name change. Status has been on processing since the 13th of April. I am getting really worried now and every time I call up I get left on hold or get told they are going to send an urgent call back email to the upgrades team whom will apparently call me back within 48hrs.
This has been ongoing now for a week calling numerous times being told similar stuff. I have been asked to email liverpoolupgrade team who will apparently call me to take payment etc but til now no calls
I have also gone on to email all the other upgrade teams with the required information.
Does anyone know if they are likely to call me 48hrs prior to my travel date or is that just another incorrect piece of information.
feeling soo stressed out over this
I feel the same. We fly on the 18th. Don’t know if to take the chance and wait for a call 2 days before we fly. It doesn’t seem fair. Be good to hear if upgrade system is working and people are receiving their passports in time
Hi, we didn't hear from upgrade team in the first week so called again and they told us to send request email again. Then after 3 days got an email asking a few details which I sent. My wife gkt a call today and picking the passport up from London Tomorrow. Will believe it when its in our hands. Flying Sunday 8th of May, there us hope with the upgrades still just very slow!! Good luck
I am just confused as to how they do not care that people could be losing thousands of pounds on bookings etc. I think keep emailing the upgrade teams every other day whereas you still have another week to go
I have til Sunday to cancel my hotel I have paid over a thousand pound for but its such a gamble because if I cancel and they call on Monday then I lose out and if I don't cancel and they don't call I can lose all that money.
Anyone got feedback regarding g this apparent 48hr call before travel day?
Hi, we didn't hear from upgrade team in the first week so called again and they told us to send request email again. Then after 3 days got an email asking a few details which I sent. My wife gkt a call today and picking the passport up from London Tomorrow. Will believe it when its in our hands. Flying Sunday 8th of May, there is hope with the upgrades still just very slow!! Good luck
Received my childs renewal today.
Took exactly 5 weeks and 3 days (you could not count the 3 days as we had 3 bank holidays)
I was asked to send the birth certificate which wasn't acknowledged on the tracking so after 2 weeks I then used the liverpoolupgradeteam@hmpo.gov.uk address and just give my details and explained after 2 weeks (sending birth cert) I'm worried they might need more information (marriage cert).
1 hour after I sent this email my status updated to approved 29th then printed 3rd then a txt to say out for delivery.
Maybe a coincidence but I think I've made someone look at mine to process as it is was straight forward renewal.
Hope this helps someone and goodluck to everyone.
Was yours an online application? Did you send the email to the upgrade office 2 weeks before you were due to fly or earlier than this? I have been told mine are 2 simple child renewals, done through post office check and send.I need them by 3.5 weeks time. I did only apply 3 and a half weeks ago though.
Does anyone have the number for Liverpool office?
Thanks
@jessicab did you receive your passports in time for your holiday?
@homersimo1 was yours being processed at Liverpool?
Does anyone have the number for the Durham office?
I did it online and I only emailed 3 weeks before our holiday but I didn't send any request for upgrade or holiday details (just that we are going the 20th May)
Yes to my understanding it was Bootle that I was returning the passport and birth cert.
I never got a reply to the email just the application process approved update 1 hour later.
So maybe it was a coincidence but it doesn't seem so.
I’ve bitten the bullet and emailed the Durham upgrade team with the details provided on here because the agents wouldn’t give us the details over the phone. I’m hoping we get something from it I’ve received an automated email back so that seems like a good sign!
@amber9514 have you heard anymore from upgrade team?
I’ve sent 2 emails. One on Saturday and one Wednesday. I received automatic reply to both but haven’t heard anything. I’ve been stuck at work the last 3 days so haven’t been able to call. Hoping I can speak to someone tonight or tomorrow. How soon after email do the upgrade team normally call?
My partner just received a call from the processing team/upgrade team, they advised to send over separate emails for both applications to back up her email with the subject as the day we fly and that the upgrade will contact us within 2 days!! Let’s hope!
I travel in TWO DAYS Sunday 8/5/22 and they haven’t called- called the progress team yesterday and the guy resubmitted my upgrade request but they haven’t called yet???? What time do they phone??? HAS to be today
What email did you use for the Durham office?
Received a call from Peterborough upgrade team today! My 2 first child applications were approved 30 mins later and I can collect from Durham on Monday afternoon before our first family holiday early hours Tuesday morning. Relief isn't the word - hopefully this will be a glimmer of hope for those of you travelling next week :)
Lib2022 did they call you? The anxiety is awful!!
No they haven’t called and I go on Sunday :(
@AimlessWanderer glad you got sorted. We never received an automated response from the Peterborough upgrade team. Can you confirm the address we used. We are meant to fly a week today and applied on the 13th march. Passport office treat people like shit
Related topics in General Passport Application Discussion
- Signature error
- Overseas application courier tracking
- Have documents checked / scanned in person?
- Delivery to Long Croft Road, Corby
- Application for first adult passport overseas